TAVISTOCK will be alive and buzzing with history tomorrow (Friday) when the Dickensian Evening — expected to be better than ever — takes place. The chamber of commerce has pulled out all the stops this year in its fundraising appeal launched in September with the aim of raising £9,000 for both the Christmas lights and the annual shopping event. Tavistock Town Crier Bob Rose and his wife Shirley last Friday stood in the rain for three and a half hours collecting money for the appeal and raised £237.34. Another part of the chamber's fundraising is selling Christmas prize draw tickets — so far, 15,000 have been sold. These are still on sale from Lawsons, Georgina's Pet Shop, Towls and Kountry Kit until tomorrow. Dickensian Evening costs £1,250 to stage as licence, street closures and street entertainment need to be paid for. The evening's entertainment includes a fire-eater, jugglers, street entertainers, choirs, brass bands, woodwind bands and a hog roast. Chamber treasurer Nigel Eadie said things were on schedule and the amount the chamber had raised was on target. He said: 'Dickensian is the big opportunity for Tavistock to showcase at its best. 'There will be lots of retailers dressing up in Victorian gear. We really are turning the clock back to Dickensian times. 'Dickensian is a really important event, it's special and is even more vital this year because of the competition we are already getting from Plymouth's new Drake Circus development.' He added that the chamber had advertised much more this year than in previous years with two 20ft banners, donated by Lloyds TSB, flying across Bedford Square and another changing positions throughout Tavistock. 'We have had spectacular response from businesses and the general public. We are really pleased that businesses have pulled together and that the public have even stopped us in the street to give us money. 'The whole event is totally fundraised by the chamber and the generosity of businesses and local residents — without that it would not have gone ahead.'
